Ever since its publication in 1843, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” has never been out of print. Dickens reportedly wrote the novella in six weeks, and it was a smash hit.

The story has been told, re-told, and re-imagined multiple times on stage and screen and print, inspiring robust debates on “the best version” or “who is the best Scrooge” that will continue until the end of time. (For the record, the best version is “The Muppet Christmas Carol” and I will die on this hill, because it is both faithful to the novella, hilarious as all get-out, and makes the story absolutely accessible to people of all ages.) This season, Faith Moore has published a new modern interpretation of Dickens’ classic work, titled “Christmas Karol,” which is both a celebration of the original story, and a not-so-subtle rebuke to modern feminism, especially in regards to its treatment of mothers.

Moore’s version was published through The Daily Wire’s DW Books, which was created in 2021, and is one of the very few fiction offerings that they have published. Moore’s connection to DW Books comes through her father, Daily Wire personality and podcaster Andrew Klavan, who is the other published fiction writer through the DW Books imprint. Writing clearly runs in the family, as Moore has crafted not just a clever homage to “A Christmas Carol,” but is able to drive home her own perspective about balancing work and life – especially the demands of motherhood and the obligations of family – in the context of this story.

In this modern twist on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Karol’s journey through her past, present, and future reveals a difficult yet liberating truth: It is far better to have what matters than to have it all.

Order yours today here: https://t.co/Gv3xcPnouH pic.twitter.com/QdEkhmmKFW

— DW Books (@DailyWireBooks) November 7, 2023

Moore’s father interviewed her about the book and he wasn’t at all proud of her or anything. (LOL)

Moore’s brother Spencer Klavan, who also has his own podcast, interviewed his sister as well.

The Scrooge character is Karol Charles, who runs a law firm solo after the death of her business partner and friend, Marley Jacobs (yes, we can all see what you did there, Faith Moore). There are several nice touches throughout the book, most notably in the naming of the characters – the “Charles” surname is a nice nod to Dickens himself, Karol’s husband is named Beau (which has the same meaning as the name “Belle,” Scrooge’s former love interest in the novella), Karol’s daughter is named Annabel, the Bob Cratchit character is now a woman named Roberta (who is Karol’s assistant at the law firm) who has a young asthmatic son named Timothy, and Karol is estranged from her closest living relative, her sister Fran (hello, nephew Fred).

As everyone should be familiar with the plot of “A Christmas Carol,” I don’t think a spoiler warning is warranted here. Karol goes in to work on Christmas Eve, blowing off her daughter’s choir concert, and calling her employees in to deal with an emergency. But as everyone leaves late on Christmas Eve, Karol is convinced she hears a familiar cough coming from Marley’s office, and is eventually confronted by her late friend, who is offering her a chance to fix things – after sadly admitting that she was wrong about having a life outside of her job. Karol slips and falls outside Rockerfeller Center, wakes up in a hospital, and her journey through past, present, and future begins. The story itself is pretty straightforward, and there are no big surprises within the narrative itself, though things are most definitely modernized (Karol and this version’s Ghost of Christmas Past are watching her memories on a TV screen in a hospital lounge, for example). While past and present proceed in a predictable fashion, Moore’s framing of Christmas Future is inventively creative, and slightly terrifying, as the reader isn’t quite sure if this is the actual future, or merely Christmas Future. Interestingly, she also chooses not to have a Ghost of Christmas Future character. While I won’t detail how the story ends, I will say that as in the original, the lesson is learned, and the relationships that were thought to be broken are restored.

The book itself is a fast read, and since the story follows the familiar pattern, it doesn’t feel like it drags on. Yes, the story is predictable, but has enough unique twists to keep the reader interested. “Christmas Karol” is not preachy, but Moore’s point comes across quite clearly – there are consequences to choices. The question is, then, will you regret those consequences, especially if they cost you your closest personal relationships?

“Christmas Karol” is the kind of book you buy, read, and then let a friend borrow. It’s a solid entry into the list of “A Christmas Carol” tributes, and worth checking out for yourself. The book is currently available in hardcover, digital version, and audiobook (all available via Amazon), and is a can’t-put-it-down-want-to-see-where-this-ends-up Christmas read.

Featured image: original Victory Girls art by Darleen Click